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Spirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends and lore. Hear fresh takes on classic myths and learn new stories from around the world, served up over ice by two tipsy history geeks. Subscribe on iTunes or RSS!

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Spirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy re-tellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.

Check out our episodes and transcripts here, read more about us here, and unlock bonus content over on our Patreon!

Newest Episodes

You might know Thor from mythology, Marvel movies, and comic books. But do you know how these various versions compare? This week, Julia walks us through the origins of Thor’s mythology. Then we sit down with the incredible comic historian Lorraine Cink to talk about the god’s transition into the world of Marvel.

The only thing we love more than a farmers market is, you know, the whole human project of agriculture. Hallie Casey and Catherine Arjet from One to Grow On introduce us to some of their favorite gods and goddesses of agriculture! In this house we stan Demeter, gardens, hospitality, and community-oriented storytelling. And remember, #agricultureispraxis.

We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into this Myth Movie Night. Amanda and Julia watch Princess Mononoke for the first time, cry a whole lot, and talk about how we need to be better to our environment. Is lipstick evil? Or just a sign of modernity? Who can say?

This week, we discuss The Unquiet Dead - Slavic spirits who cannot rest peacefully in death. Amanda proposes spring is the most haunted season. Julia yells about how you can’t control birds (or bird husbands!). Long leg, long neck, head cat...can’t lose?

This episode is chock full of summer camp ghosts, haunted schools, and too many cemeteries. Eric makes too many ranch dressing related jokes. Julia becomes incredibly jealous of a ghost hunting club. Amanda is once again confused by narwhals.

This week, we’re joined by author, podcaster, and cook, Julia Turshen, who tells us about the familial folklore of her family’s history with baking. We talk about how bread baking is matriarchal, dough starters as a connection to the past, and the romance between a miller’s son and a baker’s daughter,

We’re breaking into some 90’s CGI and inaccurate Egyptian mythology with this week’s Myth Movie Night - The Mummy! We stan Brendan Frasier, gush over Rachel Weisz, poke holes in plot, and remind you that “no harm ever came from reading a book”.

Your stories are full of lessons, this episode. Including he milestone of giving spooky prophecies, a queer dream icon, that Capstone class you take to learn how to excorcise a demon, and taking a moment to consider why you keep winding up at haunted places.

Oral tradition got a little bit more ridiculous with the introduction of Fearsome Critters in Americana folklore. As we dive in, Amanda comes up with her own Roman senator names, we fall in love with a drunk cactus cat, and a reminder: You’re not a squonk. We’re proud of you.

Caroline Crampton has spent more than six years thinking about the Thames River. We’re so excited she joined us to talk about the river’s history and folklore! Featuring “more recently, the Middle Ages,” the Angel of the Thames, and the pilgrims’ version of the pressed penny.

Sure, we’ve covered Krampus before, but we wanted to see him in ACTION with the 2015 film Krampus. A family finds out the dark true meaning of Christmas, and learns about the sacrifice of giving, while getting terrorized by Christmas accoutrement. This episode also ends with Amanda yelling, “That’s the true snowglobe!” so you know it’s gonna be good.

We got our pre-live show jitters out of the way by scaring each other with your urban legends! Featuring a WILD trip to a mountain in the Philippines, possibly the creepiest clown story we’ve ever told on the show, and a story that might have inspired Pet Semetary.